Study Shows Vegans Are More Empathetic, Neurologically Speaking

Does it baffle you how some people—even seemingly kind, caring people—can watch heart-wrenching videos like “Meet Your Meat,” read sobering accounts of dairy farm cruelty, and look at disturbing photos of hens in tiny, crowded cages, yet still eat meat, eggs, and dairy products? Many people seem so indifferent to animal suffering, and even believe that cruel farming practices are justified. Are they horrible people, or are they just not “wired” to feel as much empathy for others?

According to a new study by European researchers, meat-eaters have less empathy—for both animals and people—than vegetarians and vegans do. The researchers recruited 60 volunteers—20 meat-eaters, 21 vegans, and 19 vegetarians—and placed them into an MRI machine while showing them a series of random pictures. The MRI scans revealed that, when observing animal or human suffering, the “empathy-related” areas of the brain are more active among vegetarians and vegans. The researchers even found that there are certain brain areas that only vegans and vegetarians seem to activate when witnessing suffering—animal or human. The vegetarians and vegans also scored significantly higher on an empathy quotient questionnaire than the meat-eaters did.

Now, I’m no neurologist and I don’t know anything about brain chemistry, but every article I’ve read on this subject seems to imply that people who choose to eat a vegan diet do so because they are more capable of making compassionate choices. I’m not bringing this up to make vegans or vegetarians feel self-righteous or superior, but it is something for everyone to keep in mind when you’re accused of—or accusing someone of—caring more about people than animals

We all know someone who insists that animal advocates don’t do anything to help people. Usually, the people who make this claim don’t do anything to help anyone. They might find the results of this study interesting. While it can be difficult to devote the same amount of time and passion to all the worthwhile causes out there—and we all must put our energy towards the ones that touch us the most deeply—that obviously doesn’t preclude us from caring about other issues, especially when making a difference can be as simple as what we choose to eat or where to shop or buy our gas.

As far as animals are concerned, I’m not sure if this study has good or bad implications for them. While it’s hardly conclusive, I can’t help but worry that perhaps there are some people who will never be particularly sensitive to animal suffering, because they’re just more inclined to be self-centered. It sounds like a convenient “excuse,” but maybe it is actually something that’s difficult for them to “overcome.” Could it be like showing a blind person photos of egregious animal abuse and saying, “look, see how horrible this is?”

I just can’t believe that, though. Even if some people aren’t “programmed” to have as much empathy as others are, most everyone is still capable of compassion. (There may be exceptions though—we all knew that Michael Vick was “wrong in the head” to do what he did, and maybe had he undergone a brain scan, it would have proved it—and shown if he is truly capable of changing.)

But, hopefully sooner rather than later, more meat-eaters will realize that farmed animals deserve empathy and kindness. Most vegans have a “suddenly it hit me” moment; I like to think that non-vegans (or pre-vegans) just haven’t had their “aha moment” yet.

If you think of yourself as an empathetic-type—always volunteering at animal shelters, donating money to help earthquake victims, collecting clothing and blankets for the homeless, giving games to “Toys for Tots,” or just crying at sad news stories—but you haven’t yet gone vegan, or even vegetarian, these tips might help you make the transition, and these amazing animal facts might help remind you that animals are fascinating individuals, who have a lot in common with us, and should be treated with respect and empathy.

Read more: animal welfare, animals, empathy, meat, vegans, vegetarians

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Rebecca S.

8:40PM PST on Dec 22, 2011

Well they would presumably be more empathetic in ways technically as the pain and empathy creating centers of the brain are the exact same spots.

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Lilithe M.

7:24PM PDT on Aug 30, 2011

This article assumes that a person who is a meat eater was never a vegan - for exactly the reasons of empathy.

I was - and the vegan diet made me ill - I was already having issues with Candida when I went vegetarian, then vegan. I found that as the vegan diet drained my body of nutrition (A WELL BALANCED ONE MIND YOU! - I am very much into nutrition and have studied "balanced" vegetarian, vegan a raw food diets extensively), I became increasingly emotionally unstable - AND VIOLENT!! Then I would break down, eat a steak, and calm would ensue.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this article. As I see regularly on Care2 articles and comments, it conflates meat eating with factory farming, and you can bet that a good portion of the meat eaters on Care2 DO NOT support factory farming, and go through added effort and expense (as I know I do) to purchase animal protein sources that do not engage factory farming processes. I have a strong sense of empathy for factory farmed animals, that is why I only buy animal foods from sources I know and trust. I have had little income (on disability), but still refuse to buy cheaper animal products from factory farms.

Lydia S.

2:24PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

Maria P wrote: "In Australia we can purchase a vegan dog food and vegan cat food - Veganpet - made with organic ingredients. The lady - a lovely lady - who makes it has scientifically designed the food to contain the perfects balance of vitamins, minerals, etc for cats and dogs."

-- WRONG -- You cannot "SCIENTIFICALLY" design something an animal would NEVER eat in the wild! You do not replace what nature intended for animals by substituting something they were NEVER meant to eat!

"Some people who are not even vegetarian buy the food for their pets just because of its high quality. I'm sure that is the reason for our cats' good health."

-- Sorry, but that is animal abuse. Dogs and cats are naturally CARNIVORES -- Putting your "political correctness" and agenda, ahead of an animal's needs is just plain, WRONG!

1:41PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

Rubly L wrote:

... "Like any other muscle in the body the more we use our "empathy muscle" the stronger it will grow."

Lol, pray tell, where is that "empathy muscle" located ... Geez!

colleen p.

1:33PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

if vegans are more empathic, because empathy is knowing how something feels, knowing how a scared chicken feels as it is going to be turned into dinner, because they to are victims of abuse

only more verbal abuse of "durh hurr, learn2science! your old scientific facts are the opposite you can't go by comparing anatomy from animal A to animal B!!"

"plant eaters are peaceful and harmless. not like meat eaters"
what is a Hippopotamus?"

"omivores like the bear still have sharp claws and teeth"
what is a pig? a crow? a chimp? I've seen videos and on nature shows about deer killing and eating birds. some "peaceful gental smarter than humans" creature that is

if vegans have the sympathy and empathy higher than anyone else, do they serve in the military? killing for defense is less than offense. Killing a fox to eat and make a hat is worse than killing somebody's family member. unless of course the soilder you shot is abusive to woman,children and critters. and you kill them to save the world.
eating meat and creating fur is just greed

for those to feel and understand the suffering, because the hen in the cage is abused, and vegans on the web, are made fun of and hurt?

1:10PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

Heather M in her article said: "While it's hardly conclusive, I can't help but worry that perhaps there are some people who will never be particularly sensitive to animal suffering, because they're just more inclined to be self-centered."

It is indeed, hardly "conclusive"! The article is filled with presumptuous personal opinions, since you couldn't POSSIBLY know every person who eats meat, including me!

I am neither self-centered, nor insensitive, but I do KNOW that a vegan diet is TERRIBLY UNHEALTHY & stand by that fact!

Organic, grass-fed, certified humane meat is environmentally better, than cutting down swathes of rainforest to produce acres of "Round-up ready, GMO soy". I also believe that as a mother who wants her family to be healthy, I have an obligation to feed them properly, recognizing that there are nutrients that are necessary for us OMNIVORES to eat, in order to get the nutrition we need ... B-12 anyone?!

http://naturalhygienesociety.org/diet-veganbaby.html

I am sensitive to my familly's needs & the suffering of animals, so I am neither self-centered nor insensitive, just well informed.

However, I find the VAST MAJORITY of vegans to be SELF-RIGHTEOUS & very judgemental, elevating animals practically to "Gods". As a Christian, I believe God gave mankind dominion over the animals for a reason, along with the admonishment to be kind to them.

I abhor factory farming - it is immoral. It is a matter of balance!

10:50AM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

nature not nuture. you'll make a leopard change it's spots?
what about vegans who name call, and jump to shouting "MONSTER!" at everyone.
then again we can all call tyrants such for causing harm to the people they are supposed to lead and protect.

and why is there a photo of chimpanzees? if those aren't "Pygmy Chimps" then, I'm sorry, but that is a bad idea. Chimps hunt monkies in groups to eat. a kinder animal, to chose would be an aphid or butterfly. Vulture even.
:(

Sheri P.

11:50PM PDT on Jul 7, 2010

I disagree with Kay L. First of all, I didn't always eat meat...I was raised vegetarian. Second, I don't think it's a matter of being "wired" one way or another but perhaps being more aware. I honestly don't think a lot of people THINK about the animals they're eating and how inhumanely they were slaughtered. I think a lot of people just go through life UNAWARE...

KayL N.

9:43PM PDT on Jun 27, 2010

LOL! Total lack of logic in this article. Since most vegans/vegetarians were meat-eaters to begin with, that means they aren't wired for "empathy" since they weren't born that way.

Heather, people are more likely to listen to your opinions is you get your facts right instead of preaching such easily proved nonsense.

Katherine M.

5:29PM PDT on Jun 20, 2010

I couldn't vote. It's far to depressing. I'm a vegan, and I guess I always have been very empathetic towards people and animals, ever since I was a child. It wasn't until 6 months ago that I saw or heard something (I can't even remember what it was) about factory farming, and that was it for me... no more. It's sad to think that for some, it takes more than just hearing about it.